Automatic golf ball teeing device

ABSTRACT

An automatic golf ball teeing device is provided having a frame and a ball guide tube mounted on the frame to which a portable ball storage rack may be attached to feed golf balls to the guide tube; a cup is attached to a pivotally movable transfer arm having a counter-weight at its end opposite the cup; when the transfer arm is in a raised position the cup will receive a ball discharged from the guide tube which will cause the transfer arm to pivot downwardly to discharge the ball through an adjustable wire guide track on to a golf tee; the golf tee is supported on a member which will pivot about a horizontal axis when the tee is struck by a golf club; a rod is pivotally mounted on a support and is rigidly attached to the pivoting member and extends to the base of the frame; a star wheel feeder is rotatably mounted adjacent the ball guide tube with the spokes of the wheels projecting into the tube; a spring biased hook latch controls rotation of the star wheel and a mechanical linkage is provided to disengage the latch hook from the star wheel in response to pivoting of the rod connected to the golf ball tee supporting member so that one ball at a time can be discharged from the ball guide tube into the cup.

States atent 11 1 1 AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE 22 Filed: July 7,1971 21 Appl. Nb; 160,492

[52] US. Cl. 273/201, 124/50 [51] Int. Cl A63b 57/00 [58] Field of Search 273/201, 207

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,212,877 8/1940 Gale 273/201 3,344,955 10/1967 I lngham 273/201 X 1,923,682 8/1933 Moonnan 273/201 3,599,983 8/1971 Melton 273/201 3,003,770 10/1961 Jones 273/201 1,863,140 6/1932 Mulvaney 273/201 UX 3,298,694 1/1967 Turnau et al. 273/201 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,110,564 4/1968 Great Britain 273/201 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello Attorney-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [57] ABSTRACT An automatic golf ball teeing device is provided having a frame and a ball guide tube mounted on the frame to which a portable ball storage rack may be attached to feed golf balls to the guide tube; a cup is attached to a pivotally movable transfer arm having a counter-weight at its end opposite the cup; when the transfer arm is in a raised position the cup will receive a ball discharged from the guide tube which will cause the transfer arm to pivot downwardly to discharge the ball through an adjustable wire guide track on to a golf tee; the golf tee is supported on a member which will pivot about a horizontal axis when the tee is struck by a golf club; a rod is pivotally mounted on a support and is rigidly attached to the pivoting member and extends to the base of the frame; a star wheel feeder is rotatably mounted adjacent the ball guide tube with the spokes of the wheels projecting into the tube; a spring biased hook latch controls rotation of the star wheel and a mechanical linkage is provided to disengage the latch hook from the star wheel in response to pivoting of the rod connected to the golf ball tee supporting member so that one ball at a time can be discharged from the ball guide tube into the cup.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB JUN 1 2 ms SHEET 1 OF 3 BY AW 0& M I 4 ATTORNEYS PATENIwmmma sum 3 or '3 ATTORNEYQ AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in golf ball teeing devices for use in the practice of hitting golf balls, and, more particularly, to a device which will accurately position a golf ball on a tee automatically, the operating cycle of which device can be adjusted to suit the individual user.

Golf enthusiasts have long realized that the development of a proper golf swing is achieved by the repeated execution of the swing with a fixed stance and hand grip so as to develop correct muscle coordination and timing. To obtain the maximum benefit from practicing ones golf swing, it is desirable that an individual be able to address a golf ball which is automatically positioned on a golf tee so that the golfer is not required to change the position of his feet or the hand grip on his golf club after each golf ball has been driven. Moreover, it is also desirable that the distractions which result when a ball falls off a tee before it is stroked as well as delays between swings be minimized as much as possible so that the individual will be able to devote his full concentration to the difficult task confronting him.

A number of automatic teeing devices of the prior art have lacked provision for controlling the speed of the teeing cycle. Other devices which have been equipped with means for adjusting their cycle speed and which have used a guide channel for positioning the ball have lacked means for accommodating the increased velocity with which the ball moves along the channel so that inaccurate teeing of the ball results.

Additionally, the ball feeding arrangements of the prior art devices have relied on delicate triggering mechanisms which are both impractical to manufacture and frequently lack the durability required of machines which remain outdoors exposed to inclement weather and which consist of parts which are repeatedly subjected to friction wear.

The apparatus of the present invention avoids the foregoing disadvantages and provides an automatic golf ball teeing device which is durable in construction and which will accurately position a golf ball on a tee while involving relatively few moving parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The golf ball teeing apparatus of the present invention consists of an upright frame having a ground engaging base portion. The frame is arranged to support a golf ball magazine which may be removably mounted thereon. A guide tube is mounted on the frame to receive balls from the magazine, the balls being discharged from the magazine under the influence of gravity. A star wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame adjacent the guide tube so that the spokes of the star wheel will project into the guide tube. Rotation of the wheel is effected by virtue of the weight of the balls in the tube coming into contact with the spokes of the wheel. A spring operated hook latch is pivotally mounted outside the guide tube to releasably engage a spoke of the wheel to prevent rotation thereof. A ball transfer arm is pivotally mounted on the frame and has a counter-weight at one end and a ball receiving cup at its other end which is positioned immediately below the outlet of the guide tube when the transfer arm is in its raised position. A conventional driving range tee having a flat base portion and a tubular tee extending perpendicularly therefrom is mounted upon an end of a rod which is rotatably attached to a support platform. A mechanical link is provided between the rod and the hook latch operating the star wheel so that when a golfer strikes a ball positioned on the tee the latch hook will release the spoke of the star wheel and the star wheel will rotate through an angle to discharge one ball at a time from the-guide tube into the cup on the transfer arm. The transfer arm will then pivot downwardly to discharge the ball onto the tee from the cup through a wire guide track attached to the transfer arm adjacent the cup. The wires forming the guide are manually adjustable to assure accurate positioning of the golf ball on the tee. The counter-weight provided on the other end of the transfer arm is movable along the longitudinal axis of the arm to vary the speed with which the arm pivots about its axis.

It is among the general objects of the present invention to provide a golfball teeing apparatus that is simple in structure yet reliable and accurate in performance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic teeing device that can be inexpensively manufactured yet durable enough to withstand long use without requiring expensive maintenance.

Further objects of the present invention include the provision of manually adjustable means for positioning the ball on the tee whereby tees of differing height may be accommodated and means for easily adjusting the speed of operation of the teeing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further additional objects and attendant advantages will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description together with the accompaning drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with a wall portion broken away of the automatic teeing device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view in detail of the guide tube and ball feeding means;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the golf tee supporting arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a view in detail illustrating the cooperation between the lever arm and actuating arm of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view in detail of the guide track and cup mounted on the end of the transfer arm; and

FIG. 6 is a side view in elevation with parts broken away of the golf ball magazine adapted for use with the automatic teeing device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 the automatic golf ball teeing apparatus of the present invention generally designated at 10 which consists of a frame 12 comprising a base plate 14 to which four posts, 15 and 16 at the rear of the base plate and 17 and 18 and at the forward end thereof are attached to extend generally vertically therefrom. Cross-bars 20 and 22 extend between the posts 17 and 15 and 18 and 16 respectively. A rotatable member 24 is carried between cross-bars 20 and 22 with its outer ends rotatably disposed in apertures in the cross-bars, one of which is shown at 26. A ball transfer arm 28 is securely fixed intermediate its ends on member 24 to be rotatable about a generally horizontal axis extending through member 24. A counterweight is adjustably attached to end 32 of transfer arm 28 by means of a threaded shaft 34 which is threaded into the end 32 of the transfer arm. With this arrangement, counter-weight 30 may be adjusted toward and away from the pivot axis of the transfer arm 28.

At the top of frame 12 between posts 17 and 18 a hollow cylindrical tube 36 is secured. The diameter of the tube is chosen to be slightly larger than the diameter of a regulation golf ball so that balls may be fed through the tube 36 as will be hereinafter more fully described. A ball receiving cup 38 is attached to transfer arm 28 so that when the transfer arm is in its raised position cup 38 will receive a ball passing through tube 36.

A tee supporting platform 40 is adapted to be detachably connected to base plate 14 on either side of plate 14 as by pins 42 which are insertable into appropriately positioned openings formed in base plate 14. Linking straps 43 engage notches on the top of pins 42 to retain plate 14 on the platform 40. A golf tee 44 which is preferably made from a resilient material such as rubber and which is formed with a circular base 46 is supported by its base 46 on a rod 48 which is connected to a ring shaped member 50 which encloses the outer periphery of the base 46 of the golf tee 44. The rod 48 is substantially circular in cross-section and is secured by hinge straps 52 and 54 to platform 40. The end of the rod 48 remote from member 50 projects between posts 17 and 18 of the frame 12 to engage an actuating rod 56, the total length of which is adjustable by means of an adjustable link 58. A plate 60 is attached to the lower end of post 18 and is provided with an aperture which functions as a guide for the lower end of the rod 56.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated the detailed view of the feeding mechanism of the present invention generally designated at 62 which consists of yoke 64 having two sets of U-shaped arms, one set of which has its ends welded to tube 36 on either side of a slot 66 formed through tube 36. A flvespoked star wheel 68 is rotatably mounted between one set of arms of yoke 64 so that the spokes of the star wheel may project through the slot 66. The distance between adjacent spokes of the star wheel is such that one golf ball at a time may be engaged thereby in the tube 36. A hook latch 70 is pivotably mounted between the other set of arms of the yoke 64. One end of hook latch 70 is pivotally attached to actuating rod 56 and the other end thereof is adapted to engage the outer ends of the spokes of the star wheel 68. A spring 72 is attached between a lug 74 on yoke 64 and a projection 76 on the hook latch 70 and operates to rotate the hook latch counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 so that the end 77 of the hook latch will engage a spoke of the star wheel 70 to prevent rotation of the star wheel. When the hook latch 70 is pivoted against the force of spring 72, end 77 will momentarily move out of the path of the spokes of the star wheel 70 while the lower end portion 79 will move into this path to engage the next adjacent spoke. With this arrangement, the star wheel will not be permitted to rotate through a great enough angle to release a ball until end 77 has returned to the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

When the transfer arm 28 is in its raised position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cup 38 will engage a bumper 78 so that the cup 38 will be positioned immediately beneath the outlet of the tube 36. A guide track 80 is fixed to cup 38 and consists of a plurality of wires which may be manually adjusted as required to assure accurate positioning of a golf ball on tee 44 when the transfer arm 28 pivots downwardly to discharge a ball from cup 38 through the guide track 80.

Turning to FIG. 3, ring member 50 is provided with two diametrically disposed depending flanges one of which is shown at 82 which is welded at 84 to the upper side of rod 48. The flange on the other side of ring member 50 is also welded in a similar fashion to rod 48 so that the ring member 50 may be pivoted about a generally horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod 48 when, for example, the golf tee 44 is struck by a golf club. Springs 86 and 88 are attached respectively to operate sides of the ring member 50 and to the platform 40 to resiliently maintain the ring member 50 in a substantially horizontal position whereby the tee 44 may be maintained in the substantially perpendicular position with respect to the platform 40. The distance through which the outer edge of the ring member 50 pivots is approximately equal to the distance between the surface of the platform 40 and the undersurface of the ring member 50.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the cooperation between the rod 48 and actuating arm 56. The end of rod 48 remote from the ring member 50 is provided with a flat surface 90 on its upper side. The lower end of the rod 56 is provided with a flat plate member 92 which rests on surface 90. The plate member 92 is rigidly attached to the end of actuating rod 56 so that when the rod 48 is rotated in response to movement of the tee 44, surface 90 will act as a cam surface to move rod 56 upwardly which results in the pivoting of the hook latch which is attached to the other end of rod 56.

Pivoting of the hook latch 70 against the force of spring 72 will momentarily move the end 77 out of the path of the ends of the spokes to release a spoke of the star wheel 68 engaged by the hook latch so that star wheel 68 will be permitted to rotate about its axis, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 until the next spoke engages portion 79. To effect the feeding of one golf ball through tube 36 into cup 38 on the end of transfer arm 28, hook latch 70 must pivot to move portion 79 out of and end 77 into the path of the spokes. This occurs where the tee 44 returns to its upright position. Counter-weight 30 on transfer arm 28 is adjusted so that the weight of a golf ball in cup 38 will result in the pivoting of the transfer arm 28 downwardly as shown in FIG. 5. Upon discharge of a ball, arm 28 will pivot to its raised position.

By virtue of the springs 86 and attached to ring member 50 and additionally, by virtue of the weight of rod 56, surface will quickly be returned to its horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 4 so that hook latch 70 will pivot counterclockwise to intersect the next adjacent spoke of star wheel 68. With this arrangement, only one golf ball at a time will be feed through tube 36.

In FIG. 5 a mat surface 94 is shown positioned over platform 40 and which is provided with an aperture 96 through which golf tee 44 projects. Aperture 96 should be wide enough to permit the necessary pivoting of the golf tee 44.

In FIG. 6, there is illustrated a suitable spiral tubular ball storage means 98 having a vertically disposed exit tube 100 positioned so that when the ,ball storage means 98 is positioned on the top of frame 12, golf balls may be fed through feed tube 100 directly into tube 36. Manually operated valves 101 and 103 are located at the ends of tube 100 to permit transfer of the storage means 98 from place toplace. A removable plate 102 may be attached to the wall cover 104 upon the frame 12 to permit easy access to the feeding means 62 disposed therein.

While the foregoing has been a description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. An automatic ball teeing apparatus comprising:

a frame having a generally horizontally disposed platform and a lower end and a hollow generally vertically disposed tube mounted thereon remote from said platform, a ball transfer arm pivotally mounted on said frame and having at one end thereof a cup for receiving balls passed through said tube,

said transfer arm having adjacent said cup ball positioning means comprising adjustable wires bent to form a guide track,

said transfer arm being movable from a first, ball receiving position to a second, ball discharging position in response to the presence of a ball in said cup and from said second position to said first position in response to the absence of a ball in said cup,

means for pivotally supporting a ball tee having a generally flat base portion and a tubular tee section integral with said base portion and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom so that said ball tee will receive and support a ball discharged from said guide track when said transfer arm is in said second position, said means for pivotally supporting said ball tee comprising a rigid plate member having at least two depending flanges on opposite sides thereof and a centrally disposed aperture through which said tubular tee section is inserted, a rod of circular cross-section fixed at one end to said depending flanges of said plate member to form a support for said base portion of said ball tee disposed between said plate member and said rod, said rod being attached to said generally horizontally disposed platform so that said rod, plate member and ball tee are free to pivot about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod through a distance equal approximately to the vertical distance between said plate member and said platform, spring means acting between said plate member and said platform to resiliently maintain said plate member and base portion of said ball tee in a position wherein said tubular tee section extends substantially perpendicularly to said platform, said rod attached to said platform extending to said lower end of said frame and terminating in a flat cam surface, said tube having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, ball feeding means comprising a star wheel mounted adjacent said tube to rotate about a generally horizontal axis so that the spokes of said star wheel move through said slot into said tube, the angular distance between the adjacent spokes on said wheel being such that one ball in said tube may be disposed between adjacent spokes, the rotation of said wheel being effected by the weight ofa ball engaging one of said spokes in said tube, said star wheel having a latch detent pivotally mounted adjacent thereto for movement into and out of engagement with the spokes of said wheel, said latch detent having spring means for constantly urging said detent into said spoke engaging position whereby rotation of said wheel is prevented, said latch detent having a rod with one end thereof pivotally attached to said detent the other end of said rod engaging said cam surface on said rod attached to said platform so that, when said cam surface is pivoted, said rod will move said latch detent out of engagement with a spoke of said wheel and said wheel will rotate to feed one ball through said tube to said cup on said transfer arm.

2. An automatic ball teeing apparatus comprising: a frame supported on a platform and ball guide means mounted on said frame remote from said platform, said frame having a lower end,

ball transfer arm pivotally mounted on said frame and having at one end thereof means for receiving a ball discharged from said ball guide means, said transfer arm being movable from a first, ball receiving position to a second ball discharging position in response to the presence of a ball in said ball receiving means and from said second position to said first position in response to the absence of a ball in said ball receiving means,

means for pivotally supporting a ball tee spaced from said lower end whereby said ball tee will receive and support a ball discharged by said transfer arm when in said second position and including a lever arm rigidly attached at one end to said tee supporting means and pivotable therewith in response to movement of said ball tee, the other end of said lever arm being disposed adjacent said lower end of said frame and terminating in a flat cam surface,

means cooperating with said ball guide means for feeding one ball at a time from said ball guide means to said ball receiving means when said transfer arm is in said first position, said feeding means having actuating means responsive to the pivoting of said cam surface of said ball tee supporting means for iniating the operation of said feeding means,

said ball tee having a generally flat base portion and a tubular tee section integral with said base portion of said tee and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, said ball tee supporting means comprising a rigid plate member having at least two depending flanges on opposite sides thereof and a centrally disposed aperture through which tubular tee section is inserted, said lever arm comprising a rod which is circular in cross-section, said rod being fixed at one end to said depending flanges of said plate member to thus form a portion of said ball tee supporting means for supporting said base portion of said tee disposed between said plate member and said rod, and said platform generally horizontally disposed, said rod being attached to said platform so that said rod, plate member and tee are free to pivot about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod through a distance equal approximately to the vertical distance between said plate member and said platform, spring means being provided acting between said plate member and said platform to resiliently maintain said plate member and base portion 

1. An automatic ball teeing apparatus comprising: a frame having a generally horizontally disposed platform and a lower end and a hollow generally vertically disposed tube mounted thereon remote from said platform, a ball transfer arm pivotally mounted on said frame and having at one end thereof a cup for receiving balls passed through said tube, said transfer arm having adjacent said cup ball positioning means comprising adjustable wires bent to form a guide track, said transfer arm being movable from a first, ball receiving position to a second, ball discharging position in response to the presence of a ball in said cup and from said second position to said first position in response to the absence of a ball in said cup, means for pivotally supporting a ball tee having a generally flat base portion and a tubular tee section integral with said base portion and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom so that said ball tee will receive and support a ball discharged from said guide track when said transfer arm is in said second position, said means for pivotally supporting said ball tee comprising a rigid plate member having at least two depending flanges on opposite sides thereof and a centrally disposed aperture through which said tubular tee section is inserted, a rod of circular cross-section fixed at one end to said depending flanges of said plate member to form a support for said base portion of said ball tee disposed between said plate member and said rod, said rod being attached to said generally horizontally disposed platform so that said rod, plate member and ball tee are free to pivot about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod through a distance equal approximately to the vertical distance between said plate member and said platform, spring means acting between said plate member and said platform to resiliently maintain said plate member and base portion of said ball tee in a position wherein said tubular tee section extends substantially perpendicularly to said platform, said rod attached to said platform extending to said lower end of said frame and terminating in a flat cam surface, said tube having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, ball feeding means comprising a star wheel mounted adjacent said tube to rotate about a generally horizontal axis so that the spokes of said star wheel move through said slot into said tube, the angular distance between the adjacent spokes on said wheel being such that one ball in said tube may be disposed between adjacent spokes, the rotation of said wheel being effected by the weight of a ball engaging one of said spokes in said tube, said star wheel having a latch detent pivotally mounted adjacent thereto for movement into and out of engagement with the spokes of said wheel, said latch detent having spring means for constantly urging said detent into said spoke engaging position whereby rotation of said wheel is prevented, said latch detent having a rod with one end thereof pivotally attached to said detent the other end of said rod engaging said cam surface on said rod attached to said platform so that, when said cam surface is pivoted, said rod will move said latch detent out of engagement with a spoke of said wheel and said wheel will rotate to feed one ball through said tube to said cup on said transfer arm.
 2. An automatic ball teeing apparatus comprising: a frame supported on a platform and ball guide means mounted on said frame remote from said platform, said frame having a lower end, a ball transfer arm pivotally mounted on said frame and having at one end thereof means for receiving a ball discharged from said ball guide means, said transfer arm being movable from a first, ball receiving position to a second ball discharging position in response to the presence of a ball in said ball receiving means and from said second position to said first position in response to the absence of a ball in said ball receiving means, means for pivotally supporting a ball tee spaced from said lower end whereby said ball tee will receive and support a ball discharged by said transfer arm when in said second position and including a lever arm rigidly attached at one end to said tee supporting means and pivotable therewith in response to movement of said ball tee, the other end of said lever arm being disposed adjacent said lower end of said frame and terminating in a flat cam surface, means cooperating with said ball guide means for feeding one ball at a time from said ball guide means to said ball receiving means when said transfer arm is in said first position, said feeding means having actuating means responsive to the pivoting of said cam surface of said ball tee supporting means for iniating the operation of said feeding means, said ball tee having a generally flat base portion and a tubular tee section integral with said base portion of said tee and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, said ball tee supporting means comprising a rigid plate member having at least two depending flanges on opposite sides thereof and a centrally disposed aperture through which tubular tee section is inserted, said lever arm comprising a rod which is circular in cross-section, said rod being fixed at one end to said depending flanges of said plate member to thus form a portion of said ball tee supporting means for supporting said base portion of said tee disposed between said plate member and said rod, and said platform generally horizontally disposed, said rod being attached to said platform so that said rod, plate member and tee are free to pivot about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod through a distance equal approximately to the vertical distance between said plate member and said platform, spring means being provided acting between said plate member and said platform to resiliently maintain said plate member and base portion of said ball tee in a position wherein said tubular tee section extends substantially perpendicularly to said platform. 